Video

Details

Extended length for fast, precise shaping. Create a constant radius on an unfretted fingerboard, or level installed frets with this unique tool for the professional guitar shop.

The 18" long extruded aluminum block is comfortable to hold, and its stiffness and precisely machined radius assure accuracy that's not possible with a wooden block of the same length. We designed this tool for a lifetime of use in the busy shop.

A great clamping caul for glue-in fret jobs!"I use aluminum fretboard sanding blocks to hold and clamp the frets in place while the glue dries...A scrap of Neoprene on the bottom of the caul protects the frets from the texture of the machined surface, and serves as a cushion that conforms to the radius a little better, conforming to any slight variations in the fretboard."Excerpt from Erick Coleman's bookFret Work Step-By-Step

Cut and stick!3M Stikit Gold Paper Self-adhesive Abrasives are the right width for our leveling and radius sanding tools. Attach 80 through 220-grits for radiusing and leveling the fingerboard, and 220 through 400-grits for leveling the frets.

Works on stainless frets, too!All of our tools are suitable for use on stainless-steel fretwire, with the exception of our Fret Tang Nippers and Fret Cutters. Modern stainless-steel fretwire is known to be harder than the traditional nickel-silver blends, but our own shop experience indicates the wire does not cause premature wear of files or sandpapers.

Precise tool

I have been kicking around the idea of buying one of these for nearly 3 years now and just couldn't wrap my head around the price. But finally I tried it and bought one. The foot of this tool is cut spot on precise, with a perfect and consistent radius, the edges are straight and it does feel comfortable to hold. It's not as heavy as I thought it'd be based on other reviews but is definitely solidly built. As the saying goes, buy nice or buy twice... This is the nicest tool available on the US market today for guitar fretboard shaping. It will very likely last for decades if properly handled and not dropped and still be as straight as the day I received it. Only reason I gave it 4 stars is because there is an improvement I think could have been made. The bottom surface of the tool has fine grooves in it left over from the milling process, I could see that being problematic with buildup of gunk from sandpaper adhesive which would need to be cleaned regularly between changing sandpaper with naphtha or some other solvent. If the bottom were precision ground and polished as well it would be solid 5 star. Thats only a minor concern, this is still a great tool and will have its own place on the wall to hang in my shop. I am very happy with the purchase and will likely order another radius in the future.

Absolutely essential tool!!!

I love this thing!!! I make fretboards, glue the fretboard on, level the frets and use it to remove fretboards on necks I'm not happy with! It is one heck of a workout to radius a fretboard with and if I ever find an easier way to do it that's just as accurate I'll do it but for now this thing does the job perfectly! Customers really appreciate the hard work that goes into making a fretboard with these things and it actually helps sales.

EXCELLENT PRODUCT

These make all the diff in the world when you are trying to get a perfectly flat fingerbrd before fretting. If you use Gold Evo or Stainless Steel fretwire, as I do, or evn if u don't, leveling and recrowning ruins a perfect crown u'll never get back. When u start w a flat fingerbrd and use good technique installing the frets U won't need to level and recrown every fret. I generally just have a few high spots on the frets. I dress these w 2K paper on a fret file. I never touch 90% of the frets since i got these. BUY NOW!!!!

Great leveling tool

I've been eyeing these radius-sanding beams for quite a while. Finally took the plunge and couldn't be happier. If you're on the fence, go for it. I don't know what I waited so long for. Perfect for fretboard and frets.

Good but!

Unless you are ready for an extreme workout don't but this thing. I am 67 years old and let me tell you something, this thing gave me an extreme workout. If you are trying to radius a hard piece of wood this can be pretty grueling. You better use the coarsest grit you can use until you need to finish it. Even with the weight of the tool it is not an easy task. That being said it does the job depending on your steady hand. It is very well made and quite heavy which does help some. I believe I will get my boards with the radius already cut the next time.

Best tool for fretboard work

I have used sanding blocks for final shaping of fretboards. I always wanted one of these but the cost seemed too high, until after seeing a picture of it used to remove a fretboard. After several months attempting to remove a fretboard that seemed inseperable from the neck I used this with a clothing iron resting on the fretboard with frets for an hour and the fretboard popped off with a little force. The fretboard had a bad bend in it from previous attempts so I put it on the sanding block after spraying it wet and ironed it. Now I can repair the truss rod and reassemble it. I will use it as a glueing clamp as well and then for leveling the frets. Wish I had bought the sandpaper strips that fit.